Fabulous 2-Piece Edward Wormley Dunbar Long Low Mid-Century Sofa
About the Item
- Creator:Edward Wormley (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 103.5 in (262.89 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:This sofa is in nice vintage condition. Does require reupholstery but i know that's what you designers are looking for anyway right? Wooden legs show some mild wear to the paint.
- Seller Location:Pemberton, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU94321299448
Edward Wormley
As the longtime director of design for the Dunbar furniture company, Edward Wormley was, along with such peers as George Nelson at Herman Miller Inc., and Florence Knoll of Knoll Inc., one of the leading forces in bringing modern design into American homes in the mid-20th century. Not an axiomatic modernist, Wormley deeply appreciated traditional design, and consequently his work has an understated warmth and a timeless quality that sets it apart from other furnishings of the era.
Wormley was born in rural Illinois and as a teenager took correspondence courses from the New York School of Interior Design. He later attended the Art Institute of Chicago but ran out of money for tuition before he could graduate. Marshall Field hired Wormley in 1930 to design a line of reproduction 18th-century English furniture; the following year he was hired by the Indiana-based Dunbar, where he quickly distinguished himself. It was a good match.
Dunbar was an unusual firm: it did not use automated production systems; its pieces were mostly hand-constructed. For his part, Wormley did not use metal as a major component of furniture; he liked craft elements such as caned seatbacks, tambour drawers, or the woven-wood cabinet fronts seen on his Model 5666 sideboard of 1956. He designed two lines for Dunbar each year — one traditional, one modern — until 1944, by which time the contemporary pieces had become the clear best sellers.
Many of Wormley’s signature pieces — chairs, sofas, tables and more — are modern interpretations of traditional forms. His 1946 Riemerschmid Chair — an example is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art — recapitulates a late 19th-century German design. The long, slender finials of his Model 5580 dining chairs are based on those of Louis XVI chairs; his Listen-to-Me Chaise (1948) has a gentle Rococo curve; the “Precedent” line that Wormley designed for Drexel Furniture in 1947 is a simplified, pared-down take on muscular Georgian furniture. But he could invent new forms, as his Magazine table of 1953, with its bent wood pockets, and his tiered Magazine Tree (1947), both show. And Wormley kept his eye on design currents, creating a series of tables with tops that incorporate tiles and roundels by the great modern ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler.
As the vintage items on 1stDibs demonstrate, Edward Wormley conceived of a subdued sort of modernism, designing furniture that fits into any decorating scheme and does not shout for attention.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Pemberton, NJ
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Well Designed Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa, Mid-Century ModernBy Edward WormleyLocated in Pemberton, NJVery stylish Edward Wormley Dunbar sofa with fabulous solid walnut details . This sofa has bold interesting legs that are rounded at the feet. Reu...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Stylish Edward Wormley Dunbar Style 2 Piece Sectional Sofa Mid-Century ModernBy Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Pemberton, NJStylish 2 piece Edward Wormley for Dunbar style sectional sofa. This one is going to need to be re-upholstered but oh the possibilities! We actually love the L-shaped setup and feel ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Handsome Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa Model 4906 Mid-Century ModernBy Edward WormleyLocated in Pemberton, NJHandsome even arm sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with brass legs. Model 4906. This piece retains its original fun fur teddy bear fabric in usable condition. The foam in cushions ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Handsome Wormley Dunbar Style Curved 4 Seater Sofa Mid-Century ModernBy Edward WormleyLocated in Pemberton, NJHandsome Edward Wormley style 4 seater curved sofa. We actually love the original light blue zig-zag fabric still in clean usable condition. It measures 29" T x 96.5" L x 32" D with ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Stunning Signed Dunbar Three Seater Sofa Mid-Century ModernBy Edward WormleyLocated in Pemberton, NJStunning signed Dunbar 3 seater sofa. This piece is upholstered in it's original celery green woven wool in very nice to excellent condition. The loose seat cushions are quite firm ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Mid-Century Modern Two-Seater Loveseat Sofa by Edward Wormley for DunbarBy Edward WormleyLocated in Pemberton, NJStunning signed Dunbar 2 seater loveseat sofa. This piece is upholstered in it's original celery green woven wool in very nice to excellent condition. The loose seat cushions are qui...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Mid-Century Edward Wormley Sculptural Sofa for DunbarBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis stunning vintage sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar features a tufted sculptural seat back with unique tapered walnut legs. Uniquely covered vintage throw pillows...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWood, Upholstery
- Dunbar Mid-Century Modern Sofa by Edward WormleyBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Palm Springs, CAA good Mid-Century Modern sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, with flared back and arms and loose back cushions. Square dark walnut legs with round brass foot. The piece was reupholst...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Edward Wormley Dunbar SofaBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Chicago, ILEdward Wormley Dunbar sofa can be paired as a sectional with matching chaise longue 5525 we have offered in another listing.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery
- Edward Wormley Dunbar Gondola SofaBy Edward WormleyLocated in Toledo, OHDunbar Gondola sofa, designed by Edward Wormley, manufactured by Dunbar, very good to excellent condition. This sofa has a very solid walnut frame. The ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWalnut
- Edward Wormley for Dunbar SofaBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Chicago, ILEdward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa, early design with great scale, spring seating system, reupholstered and rebuilt reupholstered with wool ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery
- Dunbar Wormley 2 Piece Sectional SofaBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Pasadena, TXDunbar Wormley 2 piece sectional sofa 1950s Rare sectional sofa designed by Edward Wormley, manufactured by Dunbar. The sofa consists of two pa...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWalnut